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Okanagan Nation Recognizes Cole Cassidy As Salmon Feast Artist

June 26th, 2018

tkwəɬniwt (Westbank), Syilx Territory: The ONA congratulates Syilx youth, Cole Cassidy, as the artist of the 2018 Okanagan Nation Salmon Feast logo. Every year the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) has a Nation community member create an original design to represent the annual Okanagan Nation Salmon Feast. This year, his artwork, titled “Under the Morning Light” will become part of an ongoing collection of unique representations that illustrate our Nation members’ connection to and the general importance of the Salmon Feast. To see a gallery of all the commissioned artwork to date please visit: www.syilx.org/events/okanagan-nation-salmon-feast/

Cassidy shares that “Since I can remember I have always been drawing, if you ask anyone they will say I’m always drawing something. I also like working with other mediums like digital and clay. I like creating my own characters for comics that I make. My creativity and natural skills for sketching make art very relaxing and enjoyable for me. My family has and continues to support me and my journey in the arts.”

Cole Cassidy is a 14-year old who resides in West Kelowna and is at his last year at Glen Rosa Middle School. His parents are Shayla Lawrence and David Cassidy, and grandparents Kathy Lawrence, Donna and Tony Cassidy. His great-grandparents are the late Eva and William Lawrence.

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The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) was formed in 1981 as the inaugural First Nations government in the Okanagan, which represents the 8 member communities of the Okanagan Nation. The Salmon Feast honours the sacredness of the river at sx̌ʷəx̌ʷnitkʷ (Okanagan Falls), which is a culturally significant site for the Syilx (Okanagan) People, and an important traditional fishing camp, gathering place and trading site.

For further information please contact:

Tara Montgomery, ONA Communications Lead

T: 1-250-707-0095 ext. 120

E: tmontgomery@syilx.org